Tools to Save Our Home Planet

Nick Mucha (he/him/his) is the Environmental Programs Manager at Patagonia. In this role, Nick leads Patagonia’s efforts to build organizational capacity and effectiveness for Patagonia’s nonprofit partners. His work is born out of a deep appreciation for the vitally important role that nonprofit organizations play in tackling our most vexing environmental, social, and economic issues. Nick has 15 years’ experience leading conservation and community development programs throughout the world. His interest in this work was born while he and his wife served as Peace Corps volunteers in Honduras from 2004-2006. From that experience Nick founded his own organization supporting coastal communities that were grappling with booming surf tourism in southern Nicaragua. After running that organization for 7 years, Nick served as Director of Programs for Save The Waves Coalition with a focus on protecting surf ecosystems worldwide. Nick holds a B.A.in political science from UC Santa Barbara. Outside of work, Nick is usually serving up dad jokes to his three kids or scheming to get in a quick surf, trail run, or weekend adventure off-grid. Patrick Thomas is a Minnesota-based marketing leader, editor, and consultant. Over 20 years of publishing work he’s edited New York Times bestsellers, served as managing director of Milkweed Editions, ran the San Francisco Chronicle book review, and developed innovative branching narrative gaming scripts. He’s been fortunate to work with numerous award-winning writers, scientists, adventurers, and poets, and believes in the powerful role stories have to play in saving the planet.  Jessica Flint has worked as an editor at such publications as Vanity Fair, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Departures, and was a content strategist at Apple. She has written about mountain climbing in Africa for Outside, hiking with her father through Chilean Patagonia for Departures, and trends in sustainable travel for National Geographic, among other publications. She lives in Minnesota.  

Foreword: Why a Tools Conference?  by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia

Foreword: Why a Tools Book? by Ryan Gellart, CEO of Patagonia

Introduction by Nick Mucha, Patagonia Environmental Capacity Building Director




Part One: The Activist Life




Chapter One: The Ongoing Evolution of a Changemaker

Essay: Activism as a Lifelong Journey: Passing the Baton by Annie Leonard

Case Study: Undamming the Klamath River by Amy Cordalis

Essay: Intersectional Environmentalism: A New Frame for Today and the Future by Leah Thomas, The Intersectional Environmentalist

Case Study: Sixteen Brave Montana Youth Win Their Climate Rights in Court by Our Children's Trust




Part Two: The Tools




Chapter Two: Clarifying Your Cause 

How to: Create Your Vision, Mission, and Strategic Plan by Jamie Henn, Fossil Free Media

How to: Develop Strategies and Tactics by Dr. Chad Nelson, Surfrider Foundation

Essay: Listening to History by Jade Begay, NDN Collective

Case Study: Energy Garden by Agamemnon Otero, Energy Gardens (UK)

Essay: Beginnings by Elizabeth Yeampierre, UPROSE




Chapter Three: Your Story

How To: Communicate Effectively, by Kristen Grimm, Spitfire Strategies

Essay: Media Momentum by Anne Rolfes, Louisiana Bucket Brigade

How to: Use the Power of Photography

How To: Reject Dominant Narratives, by Tsering Yangzom Lama, Greenpeace

Case Study: Rewilding Argentina by Martina Sasso, Fundacion Rewilding Argentina

Essay: Creating Change with Your Story by Julian Mocine-McQueen, Million Person Project




Chapter Four: Working Together

How to: Work Effectively with Board, Staff, and Volunteers, by Mallory Erickson

Essay: The Value of Organizational Diversity by Andrés Jimenez, Green 2.0

Case Study: Idaho's Boulder and White Cloud Mountains, by Rick Johnson

Essay: Finding Purpose in a Broken World, by Kevin J. Patel, OneUpAction International

Case Study: The Bronx Is Blooming With Volunteers by Jennifer Beaugrand, The Bronx Is Blooming







Chapter Five:  Fundraising

How To: Raise Money for Your Organization, by Kimberly O’Donnell and Janet Cobb, Network for Good

How To: Write Grants that Win, by Meredith Noble

How To: Fundraise to Sustain Your Organization, by Megan Seibel, Capacity Refresh

Case Study: Mi Familia Vota by Carlos Duarte, Mi Familia Vota




Chapter Six: Lobbying and Voting

How To: Win with Legislations, by Kai Anderson, Cassidy and Associates

Essay: Lessons from Lobbying by Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation

Case Study: Native Organizers Alliance Red Road to DC by Judith Le Blanc, Native Organizers Alliance

Essay: Engaging Youth in Politics by Momoko Nojo, (Japan)

Case Study: NY Renews by Leslie Cagan, NY Renews




Chapter Seven: Legal Action

How To: Take Legal Action, by Abigail Dillen, Earthjustice

Essay: When to Sue for Change, by Hollie Kerwin, Environmental Justice

Case Study: Communities for a Better Environment, by Jennifer Ganata and Idalmis Vaquero, Communities for a Better Environment

Essay: Defending Your Right to Speak Out, by Deepa Padmanabha, Greenpeace

Essay: Non Violent Direct Action by Saif Rahman




Chapter Eight: Economics

How To: Use Economics to Win, by Julien Vincent, Market Forces

Essay: Pricing the Priceless, by Nik Strong-Cvetich, Save the Waves Coalition

Case Study: The Kilmanjaro Porters Assistance Program, by Jessica Flint




Chapter Nine: Join with Others

How to: Collaborate, by Dianne J. Russel, Institute for Conservation Leadership

Case Study: Japan's Four Years to Go by Takayoshi Yokoyama, 350.org (Japan)

Essay: Lessons Learned from Bristol Bay, by Shoren Brown, The Conservation Alliance




Chapter Ten: Movements

How to: Build Movements by Dr. Hahrie Han, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute

How To: Create Inclusive Events, by Nyiesha Mallett, UPROSE

Essay: Building the Big Shift by Bill McKibben, Third Act, founder of 350.org

Case Study: Fight for the Bight by Jess Lerch, Wilderness Society Australia




Chapter Eleven: Taking Care and Sticking with It

Essay: Persistence by Jungim Kim, Korea

Essay: Resilience and Renewal by Beth Kanter, BethKantor.org

Essay: "Sometimes You Need a F**king Boat," by Aaron Hill